Shamika Wallace, a vocational support specialist with Melwood Community Services, says her work is about helping people find success through employment.  

She builds relationships with the employees she supports, gets to know their strengths and goals, and helps them navigate the challenges that can come with the workplace. Shamika understands that a successful job often means so much more than a paycheck. It can build confidence, independence, and a sense of purpose that carries into other areas of life. 

Shamika recently experienced that with someone she worked with, who started as a custodian with Melwood Enterprises, advanced to a lead position at a contract site, and eventually entered Melwood’s abilIT program.  

“I love that I got to be a line of support for this person and help him along his journey,” she said. 

Energetic, outgoing, and passionate about her work, Shamika brings that enthusiasm to the people she supports every day.  

For her, the job is about more than helping someone succeed at work. It is about helping people see what they can accomplish and being there to support them as they do it. 

Direct Support Professionals Week 

This week, the Melwood Family of Companies is celebrating the people who help make our mission of inclusion possible, including people like Shamika. Through direct support and related work, our team members at Melwood Community Services help people live the lives they choose, pursue their goals and reach their potential. 

To learn more about the work of vocational support professionals or to apply to be part of our team, visit the Melwood Community Services website.